BINGHAMTON: The first playoff berth since 2005 for this small city's long-suffering fans.

BRIDGEPORT: A tried-and-true scorer for one of the AHL's worst attacks.

CHICAGO: Another big move for a group that already got its head coach fired before October's end. GRAND RAPIDS: Where did Francis Pare's scoring touch go? The Griffins need to locate it. HAMILTON: Nothing but good health for the AHL's best one-two net punch of Cedrick Desjardins and Curtis Sanford. HARTFORD: Reliable goaltending with Chad Johnson gone, something that has usually been a given for the Wolf Pack. HERSHEY: The status quo. Since the dawn of the Hershey-Washington affiliation, the Bears are the closest thing the AHL has to a mini-dynasty. HOUSTON: More surprising offensive output from J-M Daoust, who was taken off the AHL scrap heap this past summer. LAKE ERIE: A skilled complement for Darren Haydar. LOWELL: A playoff spot for a New Jersey affiliate for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. MANCHESTER: More lights-out net play from Jonathan Bernier, who is now in full bloom as a second-year AHLer. MANITOBA: Offensive pop to replace the departed Jason Krog and Jason Jaffray. MILWAUKEE: Hope for Hugh Jessiman, who continues to disappoint. NORFOLK: Much-needed production from Mark Parrish, Adam Hall and Martins Karsums. A goal for rookie Dana Tyrell, too. PEORIA: A rebirth for Pascal Pelletier after escaping Syracuse. PORTLAND: Nathan Gerbe's return from Buffalo and the ability for the smallish Gerbe-Tyler Ennis threat to withstand the long AHL season. PROVIDENCE: Johnny Boychuk sure would look nice on the P-Bruins blueline. ROCHESTER: For the AHL's best surprise, a second-half of minimal roster-picking from Florida. ROCKFORD: Continued endurance for 37-year-old Jassen Cullimore. SAN ANTONIO: Lots of suitcase space for a 14-game road trip that begins next month. SPRINGFIELD: Everything? SYRACUSE: Success at February's outdoor game might be all the Crunch can wish for this season. TEXAS: More of the excellent Matt Climie-Brent Krahn goaltending pairing. TORONTO: Someone to grab the No. 1 goaltending job. WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON: Getting back on track so their rivalry with Hershey can flourish once more. WORCESTER: Less movement to and from San Jose.

THIS AND THAT… Bridgeport goalie Scott Munroe won weekly player honors for turning aside 63 of 64 shots in leading the Sound Tigers to a pair of wins last weekend…

Hershey's Mark French will coach the Canadian All-Stars in next month's AHL All-Star Classic. Guiding the PlanetUSA club will be coach of the club with the best points percentage at the close of play on Sunday. Guy Boucher of Hamilton, Manchester’s Mark Morris, Benoit Groulx from Rochester and Texas rookie head coach Glen Gulutzan are candidates…

Fan voting for the AHL All-Star Classic will conclude through Sunday. Fans can vote at theahl.com…

Hershey sniper Alexandre Giroux became the 77th player in AHL history to hit 500 points last Saturday night. In the same game, Rochester veteran Chris Taylor collected his 1,000th pro point…

San Antonio lost top prospect Kevin Porter on recall to Phoenix earlier this week. The 2008 Hobey Baker Award winner had 10 goals and 24 points in 27 games to lead the Rampage in scoring at the time of his departure…

Manchester is also without its leading scorer as Corey Elkins, as well as Oscar Moller, who’s tied for second, were recalled to Los Angeles Tuesday.

From THN.com American League correspondent Patrick Williams, Around The AHL keeps tabs on the world's second best circuit, details all the news and notes and profiling prospects destined for the next level. It appears every weekend only on TheHockeyNews.com.